The sun is shining and the snow is great. As you head out to greet your students, you hope for a repeat of yesterday’s lesson when you helped some high school kids nail an air 360 with a grab. You’d found the perfect spot on the mountain and everyone, yourself included, had a blast. When you reach your designated meeting spot today, you look up to find a couple in their mid 40s. Don’t despair! The fact that he has white at his temples and she has a few extra lines around her eyes doesn’t mean they’re dead. Far from it.
Standing with boards in hand, smiling expectantly, these guests are willing to try something new. Obviously, they aren’t there because riding is “in” at school. Quite often, baby-boomer clients are skiers who are willing to put it all on the line and find out why people think snowboarding is so cool. Teach them well and you will have made some good friends, accomplished a lot and probably had a great time.
And don’t rule out a few tricks, either. The air show might need to fly at a lower altitude, but it’s not necessarily grounded. When teaching first-time snowboarders age 40 and older, just keep the following points in mind.
The Body Bounces Less
Because older students are generally less limber than their younger counterparts, you might want to withhold the mosh-pit lesson techniques you used with those teenagers yesterday. Older bones and joints don’t heal as fast as younger ones and many baby boomers feel they can’t afford an injury at this stage in life.
However, they still want to learn, so try to keep them in balance on their equipment to eliminate as many falls as possible. Help your students stay upright by doing plenty of balance drills early in the lesson. Introduce exercises such as falling leafs and garlands to help them get a feel for their edges before teaching them to turn through the fall line. You’ll return to these drills often as they progress.
Here’s a word of warning, though. While it’s wise to keep potential physical limitations in mind, it’s a mistake to simply assume them. Don’t ever underestimate the physical stamina of older snowboarders. Many go to the gym for regular workouts to counteract the effects of their desk jobs and the aging process. They may be in better shape than you are.
What Do They Want to Learn?
Some older students may be able to articulate very clearly why they’ve come to you for a lesson and what they expect from the experience. Others might not be familiar enough with the sport or their motivations to arrive at realistic objectives without your input. So, as soon as possible, make a point of talking with them about their expectations.
Generally you’ll get clear answers to your questions so you can plan your lesson accordingly. Setting goals in advance and then helping the student achieve those goals will make both you and the guest feel great.
Practice and Perfect Before Moving On
As we get older (and by the way I’m almost 60 and love to ride) many of us tend to think more about what we are doing. We generally want to understand the why and the how of what we are learning, so give great demos, but also explain the concept you are trying to convey. Be sure to clearly state the purpose of each drill, realizing all the while that older students often analyze what you say before attempting the maneuver. After all, as we age we tend to think more about the the consequences of what we are attempting.
Aid your students’ comprehension of each movement by telling them when they are doing it correctly. By carefully explaining each exercise and acknowledging their successes you’ll find that older students will be more apt to look forward to the “what’s next?”
Progress to More Difficult Terrain Slowly.
Students will benefit from a patient approach to skill development. Besides, many baby boomers get enough of the fast track at work; let them take their time on the slopes. No matter where you are on the mountain and what maneuver you’re helping them work on, make sure they’re comfortable and confident before moving them somewhere more challenging. They want to enjoy snowboarding and feel that they’ve made real progress. They’ve probably heard horror stories about how painful learning to snowboard can be, so you have to show them that it can be fun and easy. Turn each exercise into an accomplishment, emphasizing how much your students have learned and how good they’re becoming. You must build their trust so that they will want to follow you into the next step. If they’re doing well on the easy blues, why not teach them some tricks instead of moving to steeper slopes? This, conveniently, leads to the next point.
Don’t Forget the Fun.
The aging process does not stop the urge to be wild and learn new tricks. As I said before, these guests are not dead! If they’re skiers, they already know how to get down a hill on skis. They really want you to teach them enough so they can taste the excitement of riding—in all its many forms.
Why not teach these folks to ride switch and then toss in some flat spins, small airs and even a grab or two? They didn’t come out here to just get down the hill. I have taught many folks over 40, 50 and even 60, to spin and jump. Sure, the spin may be on the ground and the air may only be a few feet, but they will be exhilarated by the experience.
When teaching these students how to pull off their first air, make sure you’re on the same non-challenging terrain you’d use if teaching a young child. Find a gentle slope with a drop of no more than two feet, so that all they have to do is go straight and land. Just being in the air for a moment is a thrill and it will prepare them for landings later.
If they love this, then try teaching them a grab. Touching the back hand to the toe edge is usually the simplest grab. Keep in mind that they’ll have more success and remain in better balance if you can get them to bring the board to their hand rather than reach their hand toward the board. Basic moves like these, which can be introduced early in the teaching progression, really hook guests. Later in the teaching progression—after your students have mastered skidded turns—you can turn them on to flat 360s, but be sure to stay on that really mellow terrain. This maneuver may seem a bit tame to you, but mere words can’t come close to describing how happy your older clients will be after they complete that first flat 360 without catching an edge.
Offer your students a glimpse into snowboarding’s many possibilities and let them feel the enthusiasm you have for the sport. Show them how to catch some air off little bumps and you’ll have as much fun teaching them as they have learning from you.
Remember that you are teaching the person to play with the hill, not simply negotiate the trail. If you let them in on a few of the games from the very beginning, they’ll feel more like “real snowboarders” and have a much better time with the sport.
Summing It Up
In brief, when teaching more mature guests, be sure to communicate clearly. Ask them what they expect and be sure to explain the goals you are setting. Understand that many will be more cerebral in their learning style than your younger clients. They will know what they want and will follow your lead if you explain instructions well and keep them on nonthreatening terrain.
Help them enjoy all aspects of the sport. If you lead them through a good progression, they will follow you anywhere. Remember my five points and keep a good dialogue going. As they progress, tell them what their next options may be. Let them know they can do it all and that you are willing to help them get there. If you build their confidence and help them exceed their expectations you will have brought new converts into the sport. They will want more instruction to learn tricks or to go those places they had never dreamed of before meeting you.
Your role here is to help them feel the thrill of snowboarding. They may seem old to you, but the fact they are standing in front of you means that they don’t feel ready for the rocking chair yet. They are willing and excited! What better opportunity to give a great lesson and really feel good about helping others learn why you love the sport?
Gordon Robbins is an AASI-certified Level III snowboard instructor who has taught snowboarding for the past 10 years. A member of the AASI-E Examiner Training Squad, he has also served as chairman of the PSIA-E Snowboard Committee and snowboard director at Vermont’s Okemo Mountain Resort.
